VIETNAM’S HA LONG CITY TO HOST ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2019

HANOI, Vietnam The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019 will take place early next year in the tourism hub of Ha Long City in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province, reported the Vietnam News, a daily English-language newspaper.

ATF 2019, the annual forum regarded as one of the top events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will be held from January 14 to 18 to boost tourism cooperation and development.

With the theme “ASEAN � The Power of One”, it is expected to underline the strength and beauty of the 10 nations in ASEAN and the beauty of each individual in the community, towards a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive development goal.

A wide range of activities will be held as part of the forum, including formal meetings between officials of ASEAN national tourism organisations (NTO) and meetings between ASEAN tourism ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and India.

Other events include association meetings involving the ASEAN Tourism Association, the Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations, the ASEAN Airlines Association, and the ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association, exhibitions and business appointments seeking to facilitate the trade of regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member states, and a tourism conference.

As part of the event, the unique ATF Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) will be held to make it easier and more convenient for suppliers of ASEAN tourism products and services and international buyers to conduct business.

The authorities of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Quang Ninh province organised a meeting on the organisation of the two events.

First launched in 1981 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the forum is the biggest event under the ASEAN tourism cooperation umbrella with a view to promoting the group of the nations as a tourist destination.